O'Cannabiz Speakers

Jodie Emery

, BC, Canada

Publisher/Activist,

Jodie is most recognized as a cannabis activist and advocate, with work beginning in 2004 when she moved to Vancouver, B.C. from Kamloops, BC. Her immediate focus and favoured environment was Marc Emery’s activism organization headquarters, which included Cannabis Culture magazine, Pot TV network, Emery Direct Seeds, the B.C. Marijuana Party, and the landmark B.C.M.P. headshop.

Jodie regularly attends and organizes rallies, protests and marches; she writes to and visits with elected representatives to advocate for policy change; she’s occupied the offices of Members of Parliament; and she’s not afraid to speak truth to power, even in places where there’s risk involved.

Marc hired Jodie to be the assistant editor of Cannabis Culture magazine in 2005, then was promoted to co-editor in 2007, where they devoted themselves to the international publication until the print edition ceased in early 2009.

Jodie ran for provincial office with the B.C. Marijuana Party in 2005, and again in a by-election in 2008. That led to her recruitment into the B.C. Green Party in 2009, where she became the policing and crime critic, and ran a high-profile candidate focusing on ending prohibition to end gang violence. .

Jodie ran again with the BC Green Party in 2013, earning even more votes and regular media interviews about marijuana reform. Her volunteer team joined her by campaigning regularly between trips to the United States to visit her husband in United States prison.